“Isn’t this better than getting an early night?” She jabbed at my left.
“So much better.” I blocked and then returned the punch twice as hard.
Again, she was ready for me. As the momentum of my blow carried me forward, she stepped nimbly aside, seized my arm, and pushed on my shoulder. I staggered backward as she came at me with a fast-flowing series of attacks, a relentless barrage of punches and kicks. I barely had time to defend myself, never mind counterattack, and was driven back across the picnic blanket and toward the far side of the clearing.
“I thought you were taking lessons.” She kept pushing her advantage while also pulling her blows. They weren’t hitting hard enough to leave a mark, but I still felt the sting of them, and of the indignity of being so badly outmatched. I wondered if it was the wine taking its toll, or if I had just misjudged how good of a fighter she was.
At last, I saw my opening. In her eagerness to prove her point, she overstretched with one of her kicks. I grabbed hold of her leg, lashed out with my own, and knocked her other leg out from under her. She fell to the ground with a thud, and I stood over her with a foot on her chest.
“Maybe I should take my fighting lessons from you,” I said. “If I want to get myself knocked on my arse.”
She laughed and held out a hand. “Even after a hundred years, I still have something to learn. “Now, could you please help me up.”
I took her hand and pulled her to her feet. We stood, hands clasped, our bodies inches from each other. Her chest was heaving, her brow dappled with sweat.
“It’s good to get some exercise,” she said. “But I think we still need more.”
I moved to take a step back, ready to fight again, and found myself pressed up against a tree. But instead of fighting, she reached up to take my head and draw it down toward hers before kissing me on the lips.
I wrapped my arms tightly around her as we lost ourselves in that kiss. I could feel her heart beating as our chests pressed together, the adrenaline still coursing through our bodies. Her fingers ran down my sides and to my belt.
“I want you.” She untied my belt and let my robes fall open. “Right here, right now.”
“So that’s what the blanket’s for.” I nodded toward the center of the clearing.
“No,” she murmured. “Right here.”
She turned the two of us around so that she was the one backed up against the tree. Then, she unfastened her own belt and let it fall to the ground. Her robes parted, and moonlight shone across pert breasts, smooth belly, and the soft mound below.
I closed in and cupped a breast in one hand. My fingers teased at the nipple as I kissed her and pressed myself against her. With all the nimble dexterity she had shown in the fight, Faryn unfastened my trousers. I brought my hands around and grabbed the perfect curved flesh of her ass and lifted her. I straightened my back and held her up between me and the tree. She wrapped her legs around me and dragged me in closer, deeper.
I kissed her on the lips, on the cheek, on the neck, on her pointed elven ears. The salty taste of sweat was on her skin, a reminder of how we had tangled in combat moments before. Despite our previous encounter,this tough, smart, beautiful woman wanted me—wanted me enough to break the rules of the guild so that we could snatch these secret moments.
“Harder,” she said, her breath hot against my ear. “Faster.”
I met her demands and was rewarded with her groans of pleasure. Her fingers raked my back, digging in tighter with each ecstatic sound. Her breath came faster, her body jerking urgently against mine, until she shuddered and let out a great cry of delight.
“Oh, yes,” she said, her head slumping against my shoulder. “Oh, that’s good. But you’re still not done, are you?”
I laughed. “I’ve still got a little way to go.”
“Then, maybe we can use the blanket after all.”
I drew out and let her lead me away from the tree. We cast off our robes as we went, so that we were both completely naked, our bodies brightly moonlit against the dark of the woods.
“Lie down,” she said.
I did, looking up at the pale and perfect curves of Faryn’s breasts.
“Do you still have a little energy?” she asked. “Or did I beat it all out of you?”
“For you?” I said. “I’ve got all the energy in the world.”
“Good.” She turned her back to me and knelt on all fours, her hair pooling beneath her, looking back at me with eyes full of eagerness. “Better finish what you started.”
I practically leapt up to take my place kneeling behind her. I grabbed hold of her hips and guided myself in, feeling her wetness embrace me once more. Then, I was hammering in and out as she ground her hips against me. Our breath came in urgent gasps, and our sweat mingled together as I took her with a desperate desire.
The rhythm built, as sure and certain as a heartbeat. My whole body tingled as she arched her back and let out a cry of excitement. The sound tipped me over the edge and, with one last furious thrust, my body shuddered in release.
At last, we lay panting on the blanket, our arms wrapped around each other. Faryn reached out for a cup, took a sip of wine, and passed it to me.
“For an initiate, you certainly have some skills,” she said.
“I have a good teacher,” I replied.
The wine, which had been delicious before, tasted even better with this gorgeous woman
